Job 28:4

Arabic 2018 (الترجمة الكاثوليكيّة (اليسوعيّة))

حَفَروا نَفَقًا بَعيدًا عنِ المَساكِن، وعنِ الأَماكِنِ الَّتي نَسِيَتها القَدَم، فهُم على بُعدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَتَدَلَّونَ مُرتَجِحينَ.

What Does This Mean?

This verse from the Book of Job describes how floods can break out and make areas uninhabitable by drying up waters that people had forgotten about. It's part of Job's speech about the difficulty of finding wisdom and treasure in the world.

Explained for Children

Imagine you find a secret pool in the woods that no one knows about. One day, it suddenly dries up, and you can't find it anymore. That's like what the verse is saying about how water can disappear, making it hard for people to find it again.

Historical Background

The Book of Job is part of the Hebrew Bible, written around the 6th to 4th century BCE. It was likely compiled from oral traditions and reflects the cultural setting of ancient Israel, where natural disasters like floods were common and could drastically change the landscape.

Living It Out Today

Consider a scenario where a community depends on a local spring for water, and one day it dries up due to a sudden change in the water table. This reflects the unpredictability and the difficulty of finding reliable resources in life.

Topics

• wisdom
• nature
• disaster
• resourcefulness
• hope
• change

Related Verses

• Genesis 7:11
• Psalm 104:10
• Isaiah 43:2
• Matthew 7:24
• Revelation 16:12

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the verse mean by 'waters forgotten of the foot'?

It refers to water sources that are unknown or overlooked, like hidden springs that people have forgotten about.

How does this verse connect to the theme of wisdom in Job?

The verse illustrates the difficulty of finding wisdom, much like searching for hidden water sources, emphasizing the elusive nature of true knowledge.

Why is Job discussing floods and waters?

Job uses natural phenomena like floods to describe the unpredictability of life and the challenges of understanding the world around us.

Can this verse be related to environmental changes?

Yes, it can illustrate how environmental changes can affect water sources, reflecting the impact of natural disasters and climate changes on human life.